Cardiff City Centre and Cardiff Bay Connectivity Set as Business Priority 2026

Key Points

• The FOR Cardiff report shows that businesses in Cardiff need better connections between the city center and Cardiff Bay to reach their main operational targets.
• The research emerged from an action planning workshop which brought together business representatives with representatives from civic organizations and educational institutions and members of South Wales Police.
• The two sections need better signage while the public wants improved walking paths and enhanced transportation systems to connect these areas.
• Businesses require early access to information about major events which includes road closure details and transport plans and expected visitor counts.
• The report will guide FOR Cardiff to develop its initial action plans during the third BID term which spans from December 2026 through 2031.
• The city center faces two main problems because of traffic jams and large events which create intense demands on its resources. The Cardiff Bay community members brought up two main concerns which involved changing visitor patterns during different times of the year and creating permanent attractions which operate throughout the entire year.
• The Cleansing Team at FOR Cardiff finished 168 separate tasks from December 2025 through October 2026 by cleaning 95,715 meters of roadways and erasing 806 graffiti marks and 506 stuck chewing gum pieces.
• The workshop participants discussed six main subjects which included safety measures and public area management and employee retention strategies and transportation systems and facility maintenance and Visitor Levy funding possibilities.

Cardiff (Wales Times) November 6, 2026 — Better links between uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay have emerged as one of the strongest priorities for businesses across the Welsh capital, according to a new report published by FOR Cardiff, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID).

As reported by Business News Wales, the findings follow an action planning workshop held recently to help shape FOR Cardiff’s third term, which is due to run from December 2026 to 2031. The workshop brought together businesses and civic partners, including DEPOT, Morgan Quarter, St David’s Dewi Sant, Tiger Yard, Techniquest and Utilita Arena, alongside education providers and South Wales Police.

Participants identified stronger physical and practical connections between the city centre and Cardiff Bay as a shared priority. They called for clearer signage, more attractive walking routes and better transport links, as well as measures to help people feel more confident travelling between the two parts of the city.

Why Do Businesses Want Better Connections Between Cardiff City Centre and Cardiff Bay?

The report found that improving the relationship between the city centre and Cardiff Bay was one of the most recurring themes discussed at the workshop. Businesses and partners said Cardiff’s compact, walkable centre, waterfront, parks, historic attractions and arcades are major strengths, but that these assets need a more coordinated approach to promotion.

According to the report, participants wanted a stronger collective effort to celebrate Welsh culture and encourage both residents and visitors to make greater use of the city centre and the Bay. The aim, as set out in the findings, is to ensure that the two areas are seen as connected parts of the same visitor and business destination rather than separate locations.

Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff, said the workshop had shown a willingness among those present to work together. As quoted by Business News Wales, she said:

“The strength of this workshop was in the openness, ambition and willingness to collaborate around the table. There was a clear recognition of what makes Cardiff special, alongside honest conversations about the practical issues that affect businesses, residents and visitors.”

What Did Businesses Say About Major Events and Visitor Information?

Businesses across both areas called for earlier information about major events, road closures, transport arrangements and expected visitor numbers. The report says this would help firms prepare operations, communicate with staff and inform customers in advance.

The need was framed differently in each location. In the city centre, discussions focused on managing congestion and the pressures associated with major events. In Cardiff Bay, stakeholders emphasised seasonal changes in footfall and the importance of creating more reasons for people to visit throughout the year.

The report also points to the expected arrival of a new arena in Cardiff Bay. Stakeholders said coordinated planning will be important to help businesses benefit from increased activity while preparing for additional demands on transport and other services.

How Will the Findings Shape FOR Cardiff’s Next Term?

The findings will inform FOR Cardiff’s first-year action plans across three areas: City Experience, City Operations and Business & People. They will also inform the organisation’s role as a representative voice for businesses in the capital.

FOR Cardiff’s third term begins on 1 December 2026 and will run until 2031. The organisation says its focus will be on turning the workshop insight into practical action, building on existing services and partnerships, strengthening links between the city centre and the Bay, and ensuring businesses help shape the future of Cardiff.

Brownell said: “Our third term offers a real opportunity to bring businesses across the city centre and Cardiff Bay closer together. Better connections are a shared priority, but the report also makes clear that different communities and businesses need different approaches.”

She added: “Our focus now is on turning that insight into meaningful action: building on the services and partnerships already in place, strengthening connections between the city centre and the Bay, and ensuring the voice of businesses helps shape the future of our capital.”

What Does the Report Say About Cleanliness and Safety?

Making Cardiff clean and welcoming remains a priority. The report highlights the work of FOR Cardiff’s Cleansing Team, which completed 168 individual jobs between December 2025 and October 2026. During that period, the team cleansed 95,715 metres of streets, removed 806 graffiti tags and cleared 506 pieces of chewing gum.

The workshop also called for existing core services to be maintained. FOR Cardiff currently operates a Taxi Marshall service and has 320 CityNet radios in use, helping businesses share information and coordinate responses to incidents.

Participants also supported a more preventative approach to safety and anti-social behaviour. They called for better reporting, information-sharing and coordination between partners, including businesses, civic bodies and South Wales Police.

Could Public Space Improvements Change How Visitors Experience Cardiff?

The report identifies opportunities to improve key arrival points, including Central Square, through public art projects, greening, seating and clearer signage. Participants said such improvements could help communicate Cardiff’s identity from the moment people arrive in the city.

Residents and existing community groups were also identified as important partners in future events and campaigns, particularly in Cardiff Bay. The report recommends building on established cultural, sporting and community activity, with better coordination intended to help available budgets go further.

The findings suggest that businesses see the quality of public space, wayfinding and the arrival experience as closely connected to footfall, visitor confidence and the overall attractiveness of Cardiff as a destination.

What Are the Report’s Recommendations on Talent and Transport?

Supporting businesses to attract, develop and retain talent was another key theme. Participants called for easier access to existing training and employment support, stronger links with schools, colleges and universities, and more flexible opportunities for young people through work experience, job shadowing and workplace visits.

The report also identifies a stronger role for FOR Cardiff in bringing businesses and decision-makers together on transport, infrastructure, safety and future investment. Participants wanted clearer routes to raise concerns and influence decisions.

Discussions also included how Visitor Levy funding could support the city’s visitor economy. The report notes that Brownell’s recent appointment to the Welsh Government’s Town Centre Taskforce provides an opportunity to bring insight from Cardiff’s business community into wider discussions about the future of town centres across Wales.

Background of the Development

FOR Cardiff is Cardiff’s Business Improvement District, an organisation funded by businesses to deliver services, representation and improvements in the city. Its third term is due to begin on 1 December 2026 and run until 2031.

The latest report follows an action planning workshop involving businesses and civic partners from across the city centre and Cardiff Bay. Organisations named in the report include DEPOT, Morgan Quarter, St David’s Dewi Sant, Tiger Yard, Techniquest and Utilita Arena, as well as education providers and South Wales Police.

The workshop was designed to identify priorities for the BID’s next term. Its findings will now feed into detailed first-year action plans covering City Experience, City Operations and Business & People.

Prediction: How Could This Affect Cardiff Businesses?

If FOR Cardiff acts on the report’s priorities, Cardiff businesses could benefit from clearer information ahead of major events, improved coordination during busy periods and stronger promotion of both the city centre and Cardiff Bay. Earlier notice of road closures, transport arrangements and expected visitor numbers may help firms plan staffing, stock, deliveries and customer communications.

Improved signage, walking routes and transport connections could make it easier for visitors and residents to move between the two areas. This may support businesses in Cardiff Bay that experience seasonal footfall changes, while helping city centre firms manage the pressures created by large events and congestion.

The report’s focus on safety, cleanliness, public space and talent could also affect the day-to-day operating environment for businesses. For retailers, hospitality operators, attractions and service providers, the practical impact will depend on how quickly the findings are converted into funded and delivered action when FOR Cardiff’s new term begins in December 2026.